They are mostly pretty easy to grow as long as you also have good quality water that is not going to make the soil too alkaline over time. A good majority of the South African proteas need an acidic soil, although in both Australia and South Africa, there are some that come from limestone based soils as well.

I don't think you will find Waratah all that easy to grow, unless you are near the coast. This one prefers it on the cooler and moister side, and inland heat can send it over the edge. Clianthus is also similar, in that it does better in cooler coastal conditions than inland summer heat.And before you get too excited about freeze tolerance of many Australian and South African proteacea plants, be forewarned that many of the ones you list above have been damaged in freezes here in northern California. Many of the more beautiful flowering Grevilleas and most all Leucospermums are not hardy much below 28F, and were often killed at 24F freezes here locally. All of them should be located to avoid frost pockets to be safe, and grown hard in the late summer/fall to discourage soft new growth that is most tender.

All of the last group can be seen growing well at UC Santa Cruz Botanic Garden, where the soil is primarily decomposed granite, and they do quite well.

Grevilleas should do well for you. We get much colder than you and my grevillea rosmarinifolias bloomed through sub 20 degree weather. I did have to amend my alkaline soil with some blood meal, but they are doing fine. CAlothamnus villosus is nice. I have one, but it suffered some in our freeze here. For you it should be no problem. Surprisingly, my leucadendron "cloudbank ginny" just had a slight trace of leaf burn.

Seaside Gardens in Carpenteria sells a lot of different Australia native plants. Also, they have a really impressive display garden. If you are ever driving north that way they are just off the 101 and it is a great place to visit. There's also a nursery up there that sells Australia natives exclusively.

Buena Creek Gardens nursery in San Marcos has a rather large hillside planted with Australian plants. It would be well worth the drive over to see what they have planted and talk to the knowledgeable staff.

This is a WONDERFUL local source for lots of interesting plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buena Creek

I would recommend Australian Native Plants Nursery in Casitas Springs. Jo supplies a lot of plants to nurseries and botanical gardens in California, and she can give you a good overview of the frost tolerance of various plants as her area can be quite chilly in the winter.

I believe she sells mail-order; if you visit, call ahead.

Ryan

All three of the above posts list some of the best suppliers and best examples of display gardens/nurseries that exist in southern California for Proteaceous plants! The only garden I would add to this list is the private garden in Ojai that Jo Oconnell had helped plant that was formerly known as the Taft Center for International Concerns. I don't know if this is again reopened to the public, or how much damage it might have endured in the freeze this past January. In any case, it is one of the most beautiful displays of both South African and Australian plants I have ever seen, just brilliant to see all the variety and mature plantings together.

Just an FYI. On a trip to Worldwide Exotics in Sylmar last year they had a large area devoted to Australian natives.

Thanks for the posts, everyone. Bahia, it turns out that I have exactly the location you suggest: coastal influence, and even with the killer freeze (ice in my birdbaths), only a touch of damage hit my bananas, mango, and iochroma. I swear the grevilleas got brighter red, and none of the aussies were damages by mid-20s temps - much to my relief.

I'm a big fan of Buena Creek, and was out there last week. They got hit pretty hard, as did their suppliers, and I suspect they'll restock in time for their Spring sale. They've got the best demo gardens around, including the awe-inspiring hillside full of proteas, grass trees, and a 15' pencil cactus - all of which survives on benign neglect. Another location with excellent botanical gardens is the Wild Animal Park, with a section devoted to Aussie natives - protea, leuco* and leuca*, banksias, stenocarpus and some amazing Silver trees (Leucodendron argentum). I swung by Anderson's La Costa yesterday, now that they've recovered from the powerful windstorm that destoyed their greenhouses - I've always admired and appreciated the vast selection they offer, and they've really got a sweet assortment of Aussies (Leuco*, Leuca*, net bush, silver tree, grevilleas).

I've got a wide selection of grevilleas already (Gilt Dragon is my fav, and doesn't scratch), and a weakness for Leucospermum, which are curiously ignored by the hummingbirds. Leucadendron 'Jester' is eye-popping, and "more silver' put out yellow cones this spring. Every banksia died on me - maybe too much coastal influence - sigh.
I've never seen Hakea, Kunzea, Dryandra or one of the various flame peas growing in this area, and I'm thinking of getting seeds to give it a try. Anyone have luck with that approach? ...diana